Delray Beach, FL vs Fort Lauderdale, FL

Delray Beach, FL and Fort Lauderdale, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Delray Beach scores 129 while Fort Lauderdale scores 130 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Delray Beach is $1,914/month compared to $1,776/month in Fort Lauderdale — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Lauderdale has cheaper rent, Delray Beach actually has lower median home values ($386,700 vs $455,600).

Median household income in Delray Beach is $79,393 compared to $79,935 in Fort Lauderdale (-0.7%). The higher salaries in Fort Lauderdale partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Delray Beach spend roughly 28.9% of their income on rent, more than the 26.7% in Fort Lauderdale.